Tesla Inc TSLA customers have reportedly filed more than 2,400 complaints about self-acceleration problems and 1,500 complaints regarding braking issues between 2015 and March 2022, according to a report by the German newspaper Handelsblatt.
The complaints, which were based on leaked data from Tesla’s IT system, related to the automaker’s Full Self Driving features, and were reported in various regions, including the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Data Analysis: Handelsblatt accessed data from Tesla’s IT system and compiled a report based on the information, which revealed instances of unintended emergency braking and sudden acceleration. Although many of the incidents had minor repercussions, some were fatal.
Data Protection Concerns: In addition to focusing on Tesla’s autopilot issues, the series of reports raised concerns about weak data protection within the company. Individuals with access to the files were able to obtain sensitive information, leading to the leak of confidential data. Reports suggest that the leaked data included employee salaries, customer bank account details, CEO Elon Musk‘s social security number, as well as information about Tesla’s autopilot system and upcoming Cybertruck.
Whistleblower Actions: The individuals responsible for the data leak reportedly contacted the data protection officer of Brandenburg, the German federal state where Tesla’s German Gigafactory is based.
State data protection officer Dagmar Hartge acknowledged the gravity of the allegations and noted that if verified, the data breach would affect a significant number of individuals worldwide. The case has been forwarded to privacy advocates in the Netherlands for further investigation.
Tesla’s Response: In response to Handelsblatt’s media coverage, Tesla demanded the deletion of the leaked data and accused the newspaper of data theft. The EV company has reportedly filed a report with the Dutch data protection authority and plans to take legal action in response to the data breach, with the leaked information being attributed to a “disgruntled former employee.”
Safety Concerns: Tesla’s Full Self Driving software suite has been criticized for safety issues, but some analysts believe that its vehicles are safer than the average American automobile. The automaker recently restarted the rollout of its FSD Beta to new testers, following an extended pause that was triggered by recalls affecting 362,758 vehicles that were equipped with the software by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Price Action: On Thursday, Tesla’s stock prices closed at $184.47, up by 0.86% in the regular session, and recorded a 0.45% increase in Friday’s pre-market trading, according to Benzinga.
